"No Overnight Parking" for or against Forums

vidura

Unless these marked sites are pretty visible and public we ignore such signs. But we do not want to cause any future restrictions on van parking due to our overnighting.

In quiet private places we will disregard these restrictions, as we see them as purely beuracartic and pointless, restrictive and killjoy.

Are we irresponsible bad motorhomers?

Or are we justified in just trying to get the best out of life as and where we can, without I feel, doing any real harm?

Your thoughts please.
Vidura

TravelBug

Many moons ago when I was much younger, we parked in such a place in our VW. It was a forestry commission car park, near a river. We figured it was so remote we would be fine and no one would find out.

During the night it rained, a lot. At 7 am the next morning we were awoken by a forest warden who when we opened the curtains was stood in two foot of water, the nearby stream had turned into a raging torrent of water (it was at least 50 feet away), this in turn had flooded the car park where we were.

We've never got dressed so fast in our lives, and had to rely on the warden to tow us out with his vehicle. Naturally we got told off and he pointed out the signs were there for a reason.

Nowadays though we don't overnight in places such as wild camping spots or car parks purely from a safety point of view. Whilst we miss the days when we could just pull up anywhere and spend the night, particularly in areas such as the New Forest, we feel that with Motorhomes being such a desirable commodity and given the price we paid for it, we would rather pay to stay on a site where there is hopefully at least some peace of mind to be had.

As for everyone else, I think all you can do is try. I think the signs have been put up to prevent so called 'travellers' pulling up, I know in a nearby town the car park didn't have the signs and the pulled in and took over, it took about 2 weeks for the council to remove them as they claimed they were allowed to stay there as there were no signs preventing them from doing so. Legally they were probably right. I think that is why nearly everywhere has the signs now.

teemyob

Hello,

Very much Against.

If anything I ignore them, if anyone asks, I was overdaying and overslept.

Trev.

annetony

It depends on where it is, we have overnighted on a car park/picnic area in the New Forest twice,

when we were settling down to sleep about 4 or 5 boy racers came on and as we were there turned round and drove straight off,

later on we heard the warden come on checking but he didn't disturb us, he probably thought we were doing less damage than the boy racers,

and before we went we also picked up a bagful of rubbish that other people had left.

So I would say in certain places yes we would ignore the signs and stay, and think of suitable excuse if challenged.

Anne

mangothemadmonk · NW Rally Co-ordinator

We have parked in forestry commission No Goes but alway get there late and leave early and never leave rubbish and usually do what Anne and Tony do and pick up a bit as a thankyou.

Have never been moved on and only once been confronted by an official, After stating my case and not looking like a "traveler" (as that is whet they are frightened of moving in) he went off.

I do try NOT to park where I shouldn't though, just so as not to get a bad name but sometimes it just can't be helped.

Johnny F

MandyandDave · Moderator

Difficult one..
Those who park on land where no parking overnight is signed, will have to face any penalty imposed for doing so, just because they think their personal judgement is better than the law, doesn't make it right?

If you think that's not so, then petition to have that restriction removed and listen to the arguments for and against some objections are probably from local residents and neighbouring farmers.
Parking without permission may have an adverse affect on other motorhomers, the commission owns over 66000 hectares in Scotland alone, it would be nice to be able to use the car parks for overnighting, if some sort of legislation could be agreed upon.

Regards Dave Smile

davesport

I generally dont stop in places with these signs. Why, well not because of the restriction but because it's generally not the kind of place I want the kids running about.
There are exceptions & I've been approached by a council employee asking why I was there. The explanation was simple. I'd driven to a very remote area & there was nowhere & I mean nowhere to camp legally. The council employee hat then came off & she explained that I was more than welcome to stay provided there was no trace of me being there when I left. As a local living within sight of the car park she told me that the small local population have no problem with people staying for short periods of time. The reason the signs were erected was to help prevent a repeat of the car parks inundation by travelers. It had taken six weeks to get them shifted & cost thousands of pounds to clean up the mess that they left. Which BTW required the use of low grade bio-hazard protection for the operatives cleaning up the filth.. But she was carefull to explain that they had to be seen to be even handed in thier approach. If it was OK for MH'ers to stay then the travellers might come back.

This is definitely a case of common sense having gone out the window. There will be those who draw the conclusion that if the rules are broken then there will be anarchy. Well, I for one dont agree. I've been wild camping in one shape or form for close to 30 years & have never been asked to leave.

Can't remember who said it, but it goes something like: Rules are made for the interpretation of wise men & the blind obedience of fools.

Dave.

EJB

First point:- Someone owns the land....Why should you be allowed to park on my drive?
Second point:- Signs are only put up for a reason. This could be that the last Gipsy entourage left mountains of waste or other vehicles simply cut up and made an eyesore of a pleasent grassy area.
Third point:-In my part of the country every field and reasonable 'pull off' spot is blocked due to the above 'couldn't care less idiots'.

Finally:- It baffles me why so many so called responsible MH'ers would want to turn every 'Beauty Spot' into a camp site.

hilldweller

Be warned, under new parking regulations they need only take a picture of you and the fine drops through the letterbox.

Or you could be visited by one of those terribly nice clamper people.